Ohihiary. 275 



ing, were in pursuit of bullocks, and, on coming up to the pit, found a small 

 hole in one end of the covering of it. At first, they conjectured that a calf 

 had fallen in, but, on further examination, discovered traces of a man's steps, 

 and soon afterwards saw his feet in the pit, his body being covered with dirt 

 and rubbish. They went immediately in pursuit of the guide, who returned, 

 shot the bullock in the pit, took out the body, and hired the natives, at the 

 price of four bullocks (which were killed immediately), to convey the body to 

 the sea shore. He himself accompanied them, and procured the native to 

 convey the body to" Hilo, promising to follow immediately, and bring with him 

 the compass, the watch (which was somewhat broken, but still going), some 

 money found in Mr. Douglas's pockets, and a little dog, a faithful companion 

 of the departed traveller. Thus far the report of the native who brought the 

 body in his canoe, and who professed to relate the facts as he learned them 

 from the natives who came down from the mountain. 



" What an affecting spectacle was presented, on removing the bullock's hide, 

 in which the body had been conveyed ! It appeared to be in the same state 

 as when taken from the pit. The face was covered with dirt, the hair filled 

 with blood and dirt, and the coat, pantaloons, and shirt were considerably 

 torn : the hat was missing. On washing the body, it was found to be in a 

 shocking state : there were ten or twelve gashes on the head, a long one over 

 the left eye; another, rather deep, just above the left temple; a deep one 

 behind the right ear ; the left cheek-bone appeared to be broken, and also the 

 ribs on the left side ; the abdomen was much bruised, as were also the lower 

 parts of the legs. 



" After laying out the body, the first thought was to bury it within Mr. Good- 

 rich's premises; but, when a spot had been selected and cleared, doubts were 

 suggested, by a person who had assisted, and who had been much engaged in 

 taking wild cattle, whether the wounds on the head could have been inflicted by 

 a bullock. The matter did not seem clear : many parts of the story were dark 

 and confused ; and the following questions arose among the persons present : — 

 How was it that Mr. Douglas was alone, without any guide, whether foreigner 

 or native ? Where was John, Mr. Diell's coloured man, who left Honolulu with 

 Mr. Diell, and who, on missing a passage with him from Lahaina, embarked with 

 Mr. Douglas, as had been ascertained from the captain of the vessel m which 

 Mr. Douglas sailed from Lahaina to Kohala Point, and there left the vessel, with 

 Mr. Douglas, on the morning of the 19th instant, in order to accompany him 

 across the mountain to Hilo ? How was it that Mr. Douglas should fall into 

 a pit when retracing his steps, after he had once passed it in safety ? And, if 

 a bullock had already fallen into the pit, how was it that he did not see the 

 hole necessarily made in the covering ? It was, therefore, thought due to the 

 friends of Mr. Douglas, and to the public, whom he had so zealously and use- 

 fully served, that an examination should be made of his body by medical men. 

 The only way to have this effected was by preserving the body, and either 

 sending it to Oahu, or keeping it until it could be examined at Hilo. The 

 former plan seemed most desirable. Accordingly, the contents of the abdo- 

 men were removed, the body was filled with salt, and placed in a coffin, which 

 was fiUed up with salt; and the whole was enclosed in a box filled with brine. 

 After the body was laid in the coffin, the members of the mission family and 

 several foreigners assembled to pay their tribute of respect to the mortal 

 remains of the deceased : prayers were offered up, and a brief address was 

 made. These services being concluded, the body was removed to a cool 

 native house, where it was enclosed in the box. 



" As neither the guides nor any natives had arrived by the 16th instant, two 

 foreigners were despatched to the place where the body was received on the 

 sea shore, with directions to search out the natives who discovered the body, 

 to go with them to the pit, and, after making as full enquiries as possible, to 

 report to Hilo immediately. So far as could be ascertained, the guide was an 

 Englishman, a convict from Botany Bay, who left a vessel at the Sandwich 

 Islands some years previously : he had a wife and one child with him, to which 

 circumstance was attributed his delay. In the meantime, it was feared that 



